Self-supporting, flexible organizers

ABSTRACT

Novel methods and devices for organizing and storing articles are disclosed. The storage devices may include a flexible inner container having one or more partition walls therein. An outer skirt may be attached to the top of the container wherein the skirt extends downward to the bottom of the container to form a sleeve. The inner container and the outer skirt are configured to be self-supporting, whereby one or more articles may be stored in an upright manner in the container. The sleeve is preferably configured to receive a basket to add further support to the device. If desired, a user may advantageously employ the disclosed methods or devices to organize and store articles in a container in a manner that maximizes floor space under low-hanging clothes in a closet, for example.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to storage containers that organize and maximize valuable and often limited space in a house, building, or the like.

Conventional storage organizers are typically bulky and heavy. Some storage organizers, such as filing cabinets or shelving, are all but immovable. Storage organizers that are relatively lightweight and portable are often made of rigid materials. Such organizers are therefore generally incapable of being folded or collapsed when not in use. However, collapsible storage organizers are usually not self-supporting and typically not stackable upon one another. Such organizers are therefore not ideal.

In terms of storage organizers that are focused on utilizing the most of a given space, known organizers particularly fail to maximize floor space that exists in closets under low-hanging clothes. Moreover, conventional organizers that are able to fit in such a limited space are typically not flexible and also susceptible to dust and the like.

Accordingly, novel methods and devices for effectively and efficiently organizing articles within tight space constraints, while also being lightweight, flexible, self-supporting, and include other such benefits, are therefore desired.

SUMMARY

One exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is a storage device including a flexible inner container having one or more partition walls therein, wherein the container has a top and a bottom. An outer skirt may be attached to the top of the container wherein the skirt extends downward to the bottom of the container to form a sleeve. The inner container and the outer skirt are configured to be self-supporting, whereby one or more articles may be stored in an organized manner in the container. The sleeve is configured to receive a basket to add further support to the device as desired.

The storage device may optionally include one or more pockets attached to the outside of the skirt proximate at or about the top of the container. The partition walls form inner compartments that are preferably configured to receive one or more shoes in an upright manner. The storage device may also optionally include a top cover attached at or about the top of the container to keep dust and the like away from articles that may be stored within the inner container. The storage device may further optionally include two handles attached at or about the top of the container at opposite ends to permit a user to move the storage device with ease. The storage device may also optionally include a flap attached at or about the top of the skirt to cover each pocket and thereby keep dust and the like away from articles that may be stored within a pocket.

Another exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is a device comprising a flexible inner container having a plurality of partition walls that form inner compartments configured to receive one or more shoes in an upright manner. An outer skirt is preferably attached to the top of the container such that the skirt extends downward to the bottom of the container to form a sleeve. Both the inner container and the outer skirt are configured to be self-supporting. The container is preferably made of polypropylene. The sleeve is preferably configured to receive a basket to add further support to the device.

The device may optionally include a plurality of pockets attached to the skirt proximate at or about the top of the container and configured to receive one or more articles. Each pocket may optionally include a flap attached or about the top of the skirt to cover the pocket. The device may further optionally include a clear cover attached at or about the top of the container.

A further exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is a storage method comprising inserting a basket into a sleeve formed by joining an outer skirt to an inner container at or about a top of the container; and placing a shoe into a compartment formed in the container by attaching one or more partition walls to an interior of the container, wherein the shoe is placed in an upright manner in the compartment. The storage method may optionally include further placing an article into a pocket attached to the outer skirt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter are illustrated in the following drawings. Identical or duplicate or equivalent or similar structures, elements, or parts that appear in one or more drawings are generally labeled with the same reference numeral, optionally with an additional letter or letters to distinguish between similar objects or variants of objects, and may not be repeatedly labeled and/or described. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation. For convenience or clarity, some elements or structures are not shown or shown only partially and/or with different perspective or from different point of views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example storage organizer showing how the device advantageously organizes and contains articles according to an embodiment of the inventions disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another example storage organizer according to an embodiment of the inventions disclosed herein;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the example storage organizer illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example storage organizer showing how the device advantageously may be used with a basket for increased performance;

FIG. 5 is a top view of another example storage organizer according to an embodiment of the inventions disclosed herein that may be particularly useful to store toys or the like; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another example storage organizer according to an embodiment of the inventions disclosed herein that may be particularly useful as a lightweight, flexible, self-supporting tote.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A general problem in the field of storage is the limited space that exists under low-hanging clothes in a closet or the like. A general solution is a specially designed storage container that organizes and maximizes such a difficult strip of real estate.

A technical problem in the field of storage containers is bulky, heavy, and rigid containers that are basically immovable and not collapsible when not in use. A technical solution implementing the spirit of the disclosed inventions is a lightweight, portable, and self-supporting storage container for effectively and efficiently organizing articles.

Potential benefits of the general and technical solutions provided by the disclosed subject matter include those identified above plus the ability to create a portable cedar closet merely by adding some cedar balls to the interior of the novel container.

A general non-limiting overview of practicing the present disclosure is presented below. The overview outlines exemplary practice of embodiments of the present disclosure, providing a constructive basis for variant and/or alternative and/or divergent embodiments, some of which are subsequently described.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example storage organizer showing how the device advantageously organizes and contains articles according to an embodiment of the inventions disclosed herein. Turning in detail to FIG. 1, storage device 100 includes a flexible inner container 102 attached to an outer skirt 104. The outer skirt 104 is preferably attached to the top of container 102 and is designed to extend downward to the bottom thereof to form a sleeve 120 (as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4). One or more partition walls 106 are inserted into the container 102 to form one or more inner compartments 108 for storing articles 110. The compartments 108 may be configured to store shoes and preferably designed to store shoes in a vertical position, i.e., heal/toe up and down, as seen in FIG. 1. Such a configuration maximizes the space for efficient storage. In particular, FIG. 1 illustrates that the device 100 may have the diminutive dimensions of 25×18×12 inches yet have fifteen compartments 108 capable of storing more than twenty pairs of shoes. The device 100 may be even smaller at 18×18×12 inches with twelve compartments 108, yet capable of holding some twelve to sixteen pairs of shoes.

The storage device 100 may optionally include one or more pockets 112 attached to the outside of the skirt 104 proximate at or about the top of the container 102. The pockets 112 may be made of a clear plastic or the like and designed to hold accessories such as hats, purses, gloves, scarves, belts, and the like. Each more pocket 112 may optionally include a flap 118 (as seen in FIG. 2) attached at or about the top of the skirt 104 to cover each pocket 112 and thereby keep dust and the like away from articles that may be stored within a pocket. Known attachment means such as hook and loop or the like may be used to keep the flap 118 closed about the pocket 112.

The storage device 100 may also optionally include a top cover 116 (such as cover 116 best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3) attached at or about the top of the container 102 to keep dust and the like away from articles that may be stored within the inner container 102. FIG. 2 illustrates that the cover 116 is preferably clear to permit articles 110 within the container 102 to be seen. The cover 116 may be closeable about the container 102 by conventional means such as a zipper, as shown in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the storage device 100 may further optionally include two handles 114 attached at or about the top of the container 102 at opposite ends to permit a user to move the storage device 100 with ease.

The storage device 100 has no rigid support, making it advantageously collapsible. All or part of the device 100 is also preferably made of white polypropylene, making it advantageously lightweight and portable as well. Though the device 100 is collapsible, lightweight, and portable, it is also self-supporting. Moreover, once articles 110 are placed within one or more compartments 108 and the top cover 116 closed about the inner container 102, the device 100 is stackable such that more than one device 100 may be placed upon another for maximizing space.

Turning in detail to FIGS. 3 and 4, while the storage device 100 is already self-supporting, it is designed to be even sturdier when used with a basket, such as a standard laundry basket 122 as seen in FIG. 4. In particular, a user need merely insert basket 122 into the sleeve 120 and ensure that the skirt 104 with pockets 112 hang outside the basket 122, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a top view of another example storage organizer according to an embodiment of the inventions disclosed herein. As seen in FIG. 5, storage device 200 may include an inner container 202, a skirt 204 attached thereto and configured to form a sleeve (not shown) that may receive a basket or the like for added support, and preferably a single partition wall 206 that forms two inner compartments 208 within the container 202 for holding articles. The storage device 200 is preferably designed to hold toys that may belong to a child or a dog, for example. With such a design, there is no more need for the typical overflowing wicker baskets or expensive wooden toy boxes. The device 200 may optionally have outer pockets 210 about the skirt 204 for holding even more articles. For example, big toys may be stored in the center container 202 section, while pockets 210 may be used to organize and hold smaller toys. As with device 100, device 200 is lightweight, flexible, and self-supporting. Should handles, such as handles 212 optionally be employed, the device 200 becomes easily portable such that a child may drag it from room to room—and maybe even help pick up their toys. Device 200 is in all other respects identical to device 100 including optional clear, zippered top cover, optional flaps to go over the pockets 210, and the like, with identical advantages and benefits.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another example storage organizer according to an embodiment of the inventions disclosed herein. As seen in FIG. 6, storage device 300 may include an inner container 302, a skirt 304 attached thereto and configured to form a sleeve (not shown) that may receive a basket or the like for added support, and one or more partition walls 306 that form two or more inner compartments 308 within the container 302 for holding articles. The storage device 200 is preferably designed to be a tote. To this end, the device 300 preferably includes handles 312 that are sturdy and longer than handles 114 or 210 discussed above. The device 300 may optionally have outer pockets 310 about the skirt 304 for holding even more articles. As with devices 100 and 200, device 300 is lightweight, flexible, self-supporting, and in all other respects identical to devices 100 and 200 including optional clear, zippered top cover, and optional flaps to go over the pockets 210 the like with identical advantages and benefits.

In operation, devices 100, 200, and/or 300 permit novel storage methods. For example, with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4, a basket (such as basket 122) may be inserted into a sleeve (such as sleeve 120) formed by joining an outer skirt (such as skirt 104) to an inner container (such as container 102) at or about a top of the container; and placing a shoe (such as shoe 110) into a compartment formed in the container by attaching one or more partition walls (such as walls 106) to an interior of the container, wherein the shoe is placed in an upright manner in the compartment. The storage method may optionally include further placing an article into a pocket (such as pocket 111) attached to the outer skirt.

While certain embodiments have been described, the embodiments have been presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel devices and methods described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the devices and methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions. 

1. A storage device comprising: a flexible inner container having a partition wall therein, wherein the container has a top and a bottom, and wherein the container has a bottom wall and side walls extending upward from the bottom wall; and an outer skirt having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the outer skirt is attached to the top of the container and extending downward to the bottom of the container to form a sleeve, and wherein the entirety of the bottom of the outer skirt is about the level of the bottom wall of the container, wherein the inner container and the outer skirt are configured to be self-supporting, whereby one or more articles may be stored in an organized manner in the container.
 2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is configured to receive a basket to add further support to the device.
 3. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising a pocket attached to the skirt proximate at or about the top of the container.
 4. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the partition wall forms an inner compartment configured to receive one or more shoes in an upright manner.
 5. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising a cover attached at or about the top of the container.
 6. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising a handle attached at or about the top of the container.
 7. The storage device of claim 3, further comprising a flap attached at or about the top of the skirt to cover the pocket.
 8. A device comprising: a flexible inner container having partition walls therein to form inner compartments configured to receive one or more shoes in an upright manner, wherein the container has a top and a bottom, and wherein the container has a bottom wall and side walls extending upward from the bottom wall; and an outer skirt having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the outer skirt is attached to the top of the container and extending downward to the bottom of the container to form a sleeve, and wherein the entirety of the bottom of the outer skirt is about the level of the bottom wall of the container, wherein the inner container and the outer skirt are configured to be self-supporting.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the container is made of polypropylene.
 10. The device of claim 8, wherein the sleeve is configured to receive a basket to add further support to the device.
 11. The device of claim 8, further comprising a pocket attached to the skirt proximate at or about the top of the container and configured to receive one or more articles.
 12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a flap attached or about the top of the skirt to cover the pocket.
 13. The device of claim 8, further comprising a clear cover attached at or about the top of the container.
 14. A storage method comprising: inserting a basket into a sleeve formed by joining an outer skirt to an inner container at or about a top of the container; and placing a shoe into a compartment formed in the container by attaching one or more partition walls to an interior of the container, wherein the shoe is placed in an upright manner in the compartment.
 15. The storage method of claim 14, further comprising placing an article into a pocket attached to the outer skirt. 